stoey



(No Model.)

W. R MQOORD.

FISH WHEEL,

PatentedMay 16, 1882.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM R. MCGORD, OFEAST PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF,

s. B. STORY, 0. PRINDLE, AND J. M. MCCOY.

FISH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 257,960, dated May 16,1882.

Application filed January 4, 1852.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RANKIN M c CORD, of East Portland,-in thecounty of Multnomah, in the State of Oregon, have invented an ImprovedFish-Wheel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of two or three spiralshaped baskets, F, as may bedesired, arranged, as described, on a shaft driven by the current of astream. 7

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation. Fig. 2 representsan end elevation as seen from downstream, and Fig. 3 is a plan. Fig. atis an enlarged view, showing the shape of the slats at the back of thebaskets.

The baskets F in small wheels are nearly semicircular at the back; butin larger ones this curve is made spiral,havin g a smaller and smallerradius as it approaches the center. When two baskets are used (as in thedrawin gs) buckets I are used for turning the wheel when both basketsare horizontal;.but with three baskets these are not necessary. The sizeof the wheels varies (according to the depth of water and kind of fishto be taken) from ten to forty feet in diameter; also, the distancebetween the slats or bars from an inch or two to four or five inches. InFig. 4 a section of the back of thewheel is shown at an enlarged scale,showing the slats O and the ends ofsame where they enter the cross'barson the ends of the wheel arms G. These pieces 0 are made in this way sothat they can be taken out when they are broken by sturgeon or floatingdriftwood, when, having a number of duplicate pieces, these are placedin the breaks and busincss proceeds without delay.

At the bottom ends of the slide-pieces O is a frame, H, having a pin atits upper end in each side piece. Its bottom end lies on the floor offish-road, and in it are placed two or three grates, also hinged at theupper end, the lower end being loaded with a weight sufficient to keepit from floating. When a snag or stone comes through the road these openandlet it go through without breaking the grates, at other times lyingin place and forming a weir to make the fish leave the bottom and risetoward the wheel,wh en they pass over the top of this and into thebaskets F in the wheel. This is necessary on account of raisthe wheel.

thing of the kind, answers equally well. ()n

(No model.)

ing the wheel from low to high water. It bein g desirable to keep thewheel about one-third in the water, and by doing so at high water,

which is the best fishing stage, they could run 55 below the wheel andnot be can ght. The wheel is inclosed on each side with stones, plank,or anything that will keep the fish from dodging A row of piles orstakes, or anyeach side of the wheel is an upright timber, M, on whichis nailed a strip of two by four inch stuff for a tongue, D, and onthecentral face of each of the slides O are two similar pieces spikedthereto for guides, fitting over the first,

and on the side of 0 next the wheel (on either side) are twowrought-iron hooks (not shown). which pass around to back or downstreamside of M and prevent the loose sliding pieces 0 from becomingdisengaged. the upstream edge ofM. At the top ot'M a cap, K, is placed,having sheaves L, over which chains or ropes pass to a. windlass on theshore for raising or lowering the wheel.

The wheel-arms G are so placed that they meet the cross-piecessupporting the ends of the pieces 0 at the outer edge of the baskets F,where the arms and cross-pieces are clamped together with a piece ofwrought or cast iron,

N, and at the back of the baskets are similarly 8o fastened. The piecesare all bolted together wherever they cross each other, and so formstrong braces for keeping the wheel firm.

The fish are discharged at points E E, on the shore side of the wheel,behind and below the 5 shaft, by sliding down an incline. (Shown bydotted line in Figs. 1 and 2.) This incline is aboard floor placedinside the baskets F at the back side or shaft side,-and in such a waythat the fish do not discharge until a certain point is reached, whenthey slide out readily into a box placed at the side to receive them. Inthis they are sorted, and the small ones returned to the stream. Thesides of the baskets F are made of strips of plank screwed or 5 screwedto the cross-pieces and wheel-arms; ioo

but wood is preferable, and is used in most wheels.

G is always 0n-7o I am aware of many forms of fish wheels 1. Afish-wheel, A, having baskets F in the but that in which my inventionconsists is the form described, the sides secured to the, wheelcircnlarand partially-spiral shape of the baskarms the diagonal pieces G, andthe bottom ets, (so that the fish are taken without injuring made of thesegments 0, as described. I 5

5 them,) and the baskets themselves, made of 2. Pieces 0 and frames H,rising and fallpieces of Wood or metal in the form shown,with in g, asshown, on guides D, in combination the slats, arms, and braces at thesides,and in with the wheel.

combination the slide-pieces and rising and WILLIAM RANKIN MOOORD.falling grates in the fish -road, as stated, all Attest: 10 made in asimilar manner of bars and slats. O. B. TALBOT, I claim- J. M. MoGoY.

